Thank you to everyone that showed an interest in our campaign. We have had such a great response to our plight. This campaign enabled us to meet a variety of likeminded nature lovers and experts in a wildlife conservation & photography. We are also now working closely with specialists in the field of Rhododendron management control and are developing a revolutionary action plan that will aid in the resoration of La La Land.

Our innovative appoach to Rhododendron management will be revolutionary and we thank you for your support.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

OUR CAMPAIGN BELOW

THE CLOCK IS TICKING....

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WORTH WHILE CAMPAIGN!

WHY ARE WE RUNNING THIS CAMPAIGN?

IN BRIEF...

Our Local Planning Authority has decided they want us to demolish our handmade wooden cabin which was built to meet the criteria for Permitted Development for Forestry Buildings & Operations. We use the structure for the storage of essential tools and equipment required for continued maintenance of the woodland which we have been doing for nearly 40 years!!!

DUAL PURPOSE CAMPAIGN

FINANCIAL SUPPORT REQUIRED to hire a Barrister for our looming Public Enquiry. So far we have spent almost £10,000 in legal fees defending our case which is crazy as the cabin only cost £6000 to build! Our case is rock solid, the council are blatantly abusing their powers issuing enforcement against our cabin and WE CAN PROVE ITthey are also guilty of extreme maladministration which again WE CAN PROVE.

CONSERVATION: We are developing a Woodland Biodiversity Research team of experts who can contribute expertise in aid of saving this unique ancient Surrey woodland. We are reaching out to as many NATURE LOVERS and ECOLOGISTS to help us with the long-term goal of implementing a complete Woodland Regeneration project.

WE ARE ASKING YOU TO #BEINVOLVED

Even a £10 pledge gets you a REWARD and helps our cause significantly!

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR NETWORK

EVERY INTERACTION IS VALUED!

We have tried to choose the right words for you to gain a good understanding of our situation and we hope you can grasp our long-term vision for this unique, ancient and dying British woodland, Surrey, England.

GOALS:

To rightfully win this legal case & beat The Council

To launch this Biodiversity Research project with a strong and enthusiastic team of specialists

Create a plan-of-action to start implementing solutions to save this woodland

To use the Research and expand the team for the ultimate Woodland Regeneration project

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You might be interested if:

You have had bad experiences with The Council

You understand the importance of Woodland Management

You are interested in ecology & biodiversity

You are looking for a base to carry out experiments

You LOVE nature including trees, fungi and wildlife

You would like access to the largest private ancient woodland in South of England

You simply like our campaign and fancy supporting us!

What & Where is La La Land?

A piece of ancient woodland which has been in our family for nearly 40 years. I have personally maintained this land since The Great Storm ’87 when extreme hurricane force winds and an extratropical cyclone struck the UK and caused serious damage to the woodland. I happen to know an incredible amount about the changes in the ecosystem, monitored over decades. It is a truly magical plot with beautiful wildlife and trees galore. We have exclusive access to the woodland for biodiversity research and a woodland regeneration project to take place.

Isn’t it Beautiful?

There is a Huge Problem Though.

As a direct result of the invasive Rhododendron Ponticum the Native Ecosystem is Dying & Nothing is being done to preserve the Life Here:

Wildlife natural habitats are shrinking fast & creatures such as wild deer are wondering into the roads

Grasslands have disappeared

Blue Bell forests reduced to a maximum of 1acre

Enormous Fern forests reduced to 1 concentration

Silver Birches are dying and are struggling to replenish

Significant Reduction in the number of Fungi and Lichens

Significant Reduction in wildlife

Many native species are becoming extinct

The Rhododendron Ponticum, also named by us as The Grim Reaper of La La Land is causing a serious issue throughout this unique ancient woodland. Its invasive and aggressive growth patterns have pushed our woodland ecosystem to the precipice and unless urgent action is taken in the next 10 years they will continue to spread like wildfire creating a complete sunblock for the entire woodland ground.

How can we make a Difference?

Our plot of land (La La Land) is situated right inside this 150acre ancient woodland and provides the only direct legal access to the rest of the woodland. We are fighting this legal battle with The Council to keep our handmade eco-wooden structure for storage of maintenance tools and equipment required to conduct a thorough and expert-level biodiversity and woodland regeneration project. If we don’t do it, nobody will!

SEE BELOW FOR AERIAL FOOTAGE OF LA LA LAND & SURROUNDING WODDLAND. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHERE RHODODENDRON CONTROL HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT BY ME. THE REST OF THE WOODLAND IS ALMOST IMPASSABLE & THE SUNLIGHT DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE OF REACHING THE SOIL IN A LARGE AMOUNT OF AREAS THROUGHOUT THE WOODLAND.

WHY CROWDFUNDING?

We decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign for two reasons:

RAISE FUNDS REQUIRED TO WIN THIS LEGAL BATTLE

To raise the funds required for professional legal preparation and representation at the looming Public Inquiry – we have hard evidence to prove that The Council have repeatedly abused their powers and with the right support, we can win this case.

RAISE AWARENESS OF A DYING ECOSYSTEM THAT NEEDS HELP

To raise awareness of our Biodiversity Research Project which we hope to then further develop into a Woodland Regeneration Project. We are calling out to anyone who wishes to become involved in helping us save our ancient woodland.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Researchers

Biodiversity Enthusiasts

Botanists

Biologists

Ecologists

Wildlife Preservation Experts

Nature Photographers

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ABUSE OF POWER#1

The Council forced entry through the front gate to La La Land

ABUSE OF POWER#2

The Council then went further to break in/force entry to the wooden handmade structure

Failed to communicate efficiently throughout the duration

Failed to provide straightforward answers in aid of continued discussion

THE COUNCIL SERVES NOTICE OUT-OF-TIME

ABUSE OF POWER #3

Instead of accepting they are out-of-time to serve Enforcement…

The Council, at the latest stages of this long-term battle, changed their direction and all of a sudden we are being accused of ‘concealing the structure’ which is on our plot of woodland. The only thing obscuring a full view of the structure from the main road is woodland and cannot be avoided unless The Council wish for trees to be cut down (which we would never do anyway). It is an abuse of process for the Council to assert deliberate concealment as they would require a Planning Enforcement Order to do so, for which they are out of time.

By the Council’s own admission they suggested I apply for an LDC. I submitted my application on 10th October 2014 and it was denied on 2nd January 2015. The fact that the Council “pursued” me “to submit an application for a Certificate of Lawful Development” and gave no other option contradicts the concealment claims.

WHAT’S NEEDED & WHY?

£13,000 is the amount required to attend the Public Inquiry with strong legal support and representation. We have documented proof that the LPA has been abusing its powers on several occasions and we cannot believe they have taken this case to such extreme measures. They have knowingly and falsely issued an Enforcement Notice out-of-time and are now attempting to spin the case relying on specific case law. The case law they have chosen bares no relevance to La La Land and would be laughable if it wasn’t so saddening. We must raise the funds to finish this long and very painful case once and for all; the thought of losing due to lack of funds is just not an option for us. We love the woodland and want to see positive changes over the coming years.

What Needs to Be Done to #SaveLaLaLand?

We need to raise £13,000 by September 12th so that quality legal representation can allow us to move forward in this unjust legal battle against The Council. We don't like asking for money so we thought EXCELLENT QUALITY REWARDS could be the perfect way to say thank you and show our appreciation for your support, however large or small your donation is.

SEE BELOW FOR A BREAKDOWN OF THE FUNDS REQUIRED:

We have spent weeks brainstorming on the best possible rewards we can offer you in return for your collective support and we hope you can find something that tickles your fancy. We believe that by offering quality rewards for local and non-local investors we increase our chances of raising the funds to help us win this legal battle with The Council. Below are a selection of our rewards.